Trunk
19th (?) century
Castle Museum in Łańcut
I invite you on a journey through Poland – not only on the map, but also in time. You will see places that have bravely endured the passage of time over the past 100 years, and even longer. Today they look almost the same as decades ago. However, not all places were so lucky. It is worth taking a look at what has changed and why in them. Feel free to play with the differences and similarities.
PLACE 1
We start our journey in the north of Poland, at the Hay Market in Szczecin
The word "market" refers to a square in the city center where trade used to take place. The term "hay" reminds us that hay was once sold here. On the market there is a town hall. It's the tall, quite narrow building on the right side.
The municipal officials vacated its interiors at the end of the 19th century, moving to another larger building. At that time, various companies rented the premises in the town hall. In the black and white photograph, we see a sign with the German word "Möbel," meaning furniture. In addition to a furniture warehouse and store, there was also a wine bar located there. Currently, the building serves as the headquarters of the Szczecin History Museum.
In the black and white photograph, the building on the left side also stands out. It is the former stock exchange, which was a place where important commercial transactions took place. The building was destroyed during bombing in World War II. Today, residential blocks stand in its place.
PLACE 2
Let's now move to the street of Korsarzy in Szczecin
We will walk along this street from the city center to the Castle of the Pomeranian Dukes. Along the way, we will come across the Bell Tower. Inside the tower, there is a bell that was cast 500 years ago! Interestingly, it is older than the tower itself by over 100 years. Therefore, it must have been located in another place before – most likely in the castle's church.
Although this street measures just over 100 meters, it has witnessed many changes over the centuries. In the Middle Ages, it was a narrow path along the city walls, which is why it was called "Przy Murze Miejskim" (By the City Wall Street). In later times, it had various names: "Przy Fosie" (By the Moat), "Zamkowa" (Castle Street), and "Wielka Rycerska" (Great Knightly Street), before receiving the name "Korsarzy" after World War II.
Regardless of its name, the street has always captivated painters and photographers with its charm. The view from the presented photographs can be considered the most iconic view of the Szczecin Castle.
PLACE 3
Straight from Szczecin, we move to Warsaw, to Królewska Street
In the black and white pre-war postcard, we can see a vibrant street. A tram full of passengers is passing between tall tenement buildings, pedestrians hurry to attend to their affairs. In our direction – towards Krakowskie Przedmieście – a horse-drawn carriage is heading ...
Nearly a hundred years later, it is completely different. The tenement buildings on the right side of the street have disappeared, and in their place, there is a neatly mowed lawn of Saski Garden. There is calm and silence, even though it is the very center of the capital.
What caused this change? During World War II, German soldiers received orders to level Warsaw to the ground. Over the course of six years of war, most of the magnificent buildings turned into piles of rubble.
However, there is a common element in both photos: it is the tenement building of the Society for the Encouragement of Fine Arts (Towarzystwo Zachęty Sztuk Pięknych), visible on the left side. By some miracle, it survived the war and to this day houses an institution related to art, Zachęta – National Gallery of Art.
PLACE 4
We remain in Warsaw but venture to the Palace at Wilanów
This palace was built in the late 17th century for King Jan III Sobieski. Subsequent residents expanded the estate and its adjacent garden.
At the beginning of the 19th century, the Gothic Gallery was erected on the north side of the palace. The then owners, Stanisław Kostka Potocki and his wife Aleksandra, wanted to showcase their art collection there.
The term "Gothic" indicates that the building's appearance was meant to resemble the popular Gothic style of the Middle Ages. One of its characteristic features was, among others, high and narrow windows. As seen in the black and white representation, this is precisely how the row of passages, professionally called arcades, looks.
However, in the mid-19th century, Stanisław Kostka's grandson, August Potocki, desired to change the appearance of the Gallery. Under his instructions, a series of alterations were made both on the exterior and interior of the building. This state has been preserved to this day.
PLACE 5
We enter the interior of the Palace at Wilanów
We are in the residence of King Jan III Sobieski. Why was this room called the Dutch Cabinet? Well, in the 17th century, several paintings by Dutch artists were displayed here. Among them were two works by none other than Rembrandt himself, one of the greatest painters in Europe!
The Dutch Cabinet underwent extensive reconstruction in the first half of the 18th century. Today, it looks almost identical to how it did 150 years ago. This is confirmed by a black and white photograph taken in the 19th century, which depicts not the exact interior itself, but a painting by Aleksander Gryglewski. The corner mirror, arrangement of paintings, and doors resemble the present-day setting. However, the true highlight of this room is the ceiling mural. Its author aimed to deceive the viewer's perception. The architectural elements were painted in a way that creates the illusion that there is no ceiling above our heads, but rather an expanse of sky. The figures depicted on it appear to be floating on clouds. Such painting is known as illusionistic and is characteristic of Baroque art.
PLACE 6
From Warsaw, we travel to Lublin, to Krakowskie Przedmieście Street
Before us stretches a view of the tall and massive Krakowska Gate. In the past, during the Middle Ages, it was the only gate leading to the city. From there, powerful defensive walls extended, protecting the access to the city of Lublin. Today, the gate building houses the Lublin City History Museum.
In the 19th-century engraving, on the left side of the street, we can see a building devastated by fire. It is the monastery complex. Following this tragedy, the monks had to evacuate from the premises.
In the place of the destroyed church, the New Town Hall was built, which, as the name suggests, served as the city administration office. It continues to fulfill this function to this day. The daily trumpet call, known as the "hejnał," can be heard from its terrace.
In both representations, on the far left side, the Church of the Holy Spirit is visible.
PLACE 7
We stay in Lublin and head towards Kowalska Street
From this location, we can admire Castle Hill. This is true today and was the case in the 19th century.
The Lublin Castle holds nearly 700 years of history. Its round tower is the oldest monument in the region and has withstood many challenges. Initially serving a defensive function, it later became a prison and, although it may be hard to believe, inscriptions left by convicts in 1610 and 1612 were discovered there. To the right of the tower, one can see the steep roof of the Holy Trinity Chapel. Inside, magnificent paintings funded by King Władysław Jagiełło have been preserved to this day. The chapel serves as a magical connection to the times of medieval knights.
Unfortunately, due to persecutions during World War II, many of them lost their lives, and this place changed its character.
PLACE 8
We conclude our journey in Poland at the Castle in Łańcut
At the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries, Princess Izabela Lubomirska, the owner of Łańcut Castle, resided there. It was she who came up with the idea to build an orangery in this location. An orangery is a garden building with large windows, where tropical plants are cultivated. Lubomirska had a good knowledge of botany and knew how to select the most beautiful plants for her residence. Therefore, the orangery was filled with lemon and orange trees.
In recent years, the building also housed a winter garden with exotic plants such as palms, citrus trees, and banana plants. Currently, the building serves as the Jan Potocki Center for Traditional Education.
Baroque – the main trend in European culture, which lasted from the end of the 16th century to the 18th century. In art, it was characterized by splendor, decorativeness and contrasts. Baroque distinguished itself in all areas of art: architecture, literature, theater, art and music.
Judaism – religion professed by Jews; Judaism is belief in one God. The most important book for the followers of Judaism is the Torah.
Town Hall – the building which is the seat of the city authorities. In Poland, the town hall was usually built on the town square.
Jews – followers of the religion known as Judaism; for centuries they settled in many places around the world, incl. in Poland. In 1948, the state of Israel was established, in which many Jews live.
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